Shelburne Man Killed in North Country Snow Machine Crash

CONCORD, N.H. – A young man riding alone last night on a Shelburne snowmobile trail died after being injured in a snow machine crash and spending the bitterly cold night on the trail.

John Arsenault of Shelburne, N.H., age 29, left for an evening ride on his snowmobile at approximately 7:30 p.m. yesterday (January 22, 2013). It was determined that he went over a hill at a high rate of speed and crashed sometime during the night. When he did not show up for work this morning, friends went out looking for him and found Arsenault, injured and unconscious, on the Gorham Pipeline Trail. They called 911 for help at 10:45 a.m.

When emergency responders reached the scene, Arsenault was alive, though unconscious. He was transported to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, N.H., where he passed away later in the day.

Speed and alcohol were contributing factors. Arsenault was wearing a helmet.

Responders included New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers, Gorham Police and Gorham Fire and Rescue personnel.

No further information is available at this time.

The incident is under investigation by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.